COSTA MESA

An ambitious city campaign designed to educate business owners about plans to widen 17th Street concluded last week with the selection of six representatives to serve on a committee that will help shape the project. The city and the Chamber of Commerce launched the effort to inform 17th Street business owners and gather input from them. The east-west corridor is home to about 500 businesses and is operating at capacity, handling more than 33,000 cars a day, city officials said. The city has not funded the project, which is projected to cost $5 million to $7 million.

Bill Ross, owner of the Starving Artist and an elected representative to the ad hoc committee, said the majority of business owners who attended a recent outreach meeting did not see why widening 17th Street from four to six lanes is necessary.